Mo. unemployment falls to lowest rate since July 2001

Missouri’s December seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped three-tenths of a point to 4.4 percent, its lowest rate since July 2001.

Employers added 4,000 new jobs during the month, 100 less than in November, according to a news release from the Missouri Department of Economic Development.

Growth was led by construction, which added 2,600 jobs, followed by health care and social assistance, at 2,000 jobs, and other services, at 1,500 new positions.

During December, U.S. nonfarm payroll employment rose by 292,000 jobs. The nation’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was unchanged at 5 percent.

The latest Springfield metropolitan statistical area unemployment rate in November was 3.6 percent, before seasonal adjustments, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.